Prep School or not?

[Aaliah1234]

Hello all,
My son is only 1 but I’ve been thinking about where to send him in a couple of years. I know it’s early but I want to do all my research so I have enough time to think and prepare if need be.

I’ve looked into prep schools but I want to know if they are worth the money. Financially we are not that secure but we could push it a little bit as we want to give little one the best chance to succeed later in life. Both hubby and I didn’t get to go to prep, grammar or independent as our parents had moved here from a 3rd world country and they had no clue such things existed. We managed okay and went to good universities without tutoring. However, we want to give DS the things we couldn’t have. Like any other parent we would love to send him to Eton or Winchester but we can’t really be sure if we can afford it, in a couple of years we may be but things are uncertain as of yet.

So my questions are:

1. are prep schools worth it?
2. do prep schools only prepare pupils only for private independent schools and grammar?
3. can they prepare pupils for 11+?
4. if a child goes to a prep school can they still attend state grammar schools?

Asking a lot about grammar schools as if things don’t work out for us financially then I would love it if DS goes to grammar school. I know the 11+ is needed for that. I wouldn’t want to pay for extra coaching on top of prep school just to prepare him for grammar school.

Thanks for the replies in advance

A good prep school is worth every penny. They do prepare for 11+.

Depends how good your local state schools are.

We don’t live in a very good area so the schools are okayish. We have family kids who go there and they are happy but none of them are really trying for grammar schools

It depends a lot on the prep school.

Some prep schools offer very little educationally above local state primaries (except a particular kind of peer group, and separation from the type of children parents paying for education typically want to avoid)

Some prep schools offer something different from, but not necessarily educationally better than, state primaries - e.g. more sport or drama, much more time exploring nature, no testing.

Some prep schools offer a style of education that is more familiar to their traditional clientele than current state schools offer, but again not necessarily better - desks in lines, traditional uniforms, lots of formal testing, lots of homework, focus on manners and neat handwriting etc.

Some prep schools are educationally excellent.

Some prep schools are educationally excellent and offer 'extras' that state schools cannot - daily traditional sport, large grounds, orchestras, on-site theatres, dance etc etc.

Few prep schools are good for children with special educational needs affecting behaviour or learning, though some are good for children with high functioning ASD, and a few private primaries specialise in mild learning disabilities.

Some prep schools are very tightly linked to specific 11+ or 13+ schools, and are geared up to getting their pupils into their linked schools. these are not great for anyone looking for a choice at 11+ or 13+.

Some prep schools are 'stand alone' and target a range of 'public' schools at 13+. These will tend not to prepare children for grammars at 11+.

Some preps, or private primaries, specialise in preparation for schools with 11+ entry, whether private or state grammars.

I live in an area with a few super-selective state grammars, and a high percentage of those entering the most selective grammars have been at private primaries whose selling point is their preparation for the 11+. Of those children I know personally, ALL who have gone to those grammars, whether from state or private schools, have been extensively coached for the 11+, whether through intensive home tuition or through paid-for coaching. None have got in by school preparation alone.

If you have an outstanding primary school on your doorstep they’re not necessarily always worth it. However some prep schools really really are and offer many opportunities to kids. Definitely explore your local options and look around the prep schools. Get a feel for the place and go from there. Some have long waiting lists so don’t leave it until it’s too late! I went to a prep school and loved it. My parents did it for the same reasons as you; they didn’t have access to such opportunities and wanted the best for us- they would tell you it was worth every penny! Good luck

Are you in a 'wholly selective' area (e.g. Kent) or one with a few 'superselective' grammars that draw from a wide area?

Again thinking about my local area:

• There are 2 prep schools set up to feed their own senior school at 13+
• There is another set up to feed its own senior at 11+
• There is a private primary with an expertise in a specific SEN.
• There are a lot of out of town 'traditional family style preps'
• there are a coupole of private primaries of the 11+ coaching variety.

If I wanted my child to go to a grammar school, there is only 1 of the schools I would bother with as increasing their chances above the local primaries - though it would still expect coaching for at least the full year before the test.

Thank you for the detailed replies! Lots of new information for me.

I will definitely look around my local area but then again there are things we are not sure about (e.g. not sure if we will live in this area for the next couple of years). I know the schools here are not so good.

I’ve looked at the local grammar school and the leavers destinations. Most seem to be within London unis. No oxbridge!

Cantkeepawayforever we are close to Heathrow but there are a few prep schools close to us. Windsor is also close so been looking at their prep schools too.

How do I go on about finding the best prep school in terms of providing academic excellence as well as good range of extra curricular activities? Aside from destinations, what else do I need to look at?

What about state primary schools? Do I just look at the ofsted rating?

Sorry if these questions are all too basic!

Read the ISI reports for private schools and ofsted reports for state schools. Read them thoroughly - they give good information on the standards at the school. Some preps look fabulous but are lacking in teaching etc. For state schools you can also look them up on gov.uk and look at the % of children reaching the expected and higher standard for Reading, handwriting and mathematics (I think)

Go to the schools, make a list of questions before you go and also talk to as many people as possible in your local area. Look at the children in the schools and ask yourself if your child would suit each school. If you’re near Windsor /generally not far from London then you’re lucky and will likely have ample choice of prep school. Further up north we have less choice! (Although private schools for seniors are significantly cheaper)

Just looked at the schools in my local area on gov.uk. There’s only one school with a performance in reading, writing and maths score of above average. Rest are all average or below. The well above average schools are not in our LA so I’m not sure if they will takeDS.

Can you pass the common entrance exam without going to prep schools. I’ve looked at Domenic prep schools and they start the languages around year 5 mostly. Can these be taught by tuition alone? Or is that too optimistic? Also the other issue with state schools is the extra curricular activities. I could take DS to classes for options that are not available in school but at the same time, I don’t want to put all this pressure on him as he will also have school work (school work plus three extra languages tuition and extra clubs seems like a lot for a primary school age child) or is it not?

*some not Domenic

Going to private is a long term commitment, you need to plan your financials carefully. Also you need to think of whether you are going to have other children, as it would be difficult if you could only afford to send one kid to private schools.

In your situation, I would sugguest to start reception in a good state school for KS1 education, and to try 7 or 8 + to the top independent schools. TBH, the difference between a good state school and preprep is very very small at KS1 stage. You could save ££ for the first 3 or 4 years, and also have a clearer idea of whether your DS is academic or Eton/Winchester-material. Of course it's still very early to tell at the age of 7, but you would surely have more clue than now.

A good prep school will prepare children properly for 11 or 13+.

Hhks for now this what I think we will do as financially there’s only a small chance that we might be able to afford prep school. I don’t mind state schools but I’ve checked my area and there is only one school which is good. The rest don’t produce good results.
There are some other schools which are not far away but I’m sure we don’t fall in their catchment area so hence I’ve been thinking prep schools.

The only other thing is my husbands family is going to get annoyed by what I am doing as 1) they want me and husband to come and live with them in the 3rd world country 2) they don’t think primary education is as important as secondary.

Now I think primary education is as important as it lays the foundation for what’s to come. I personally missed years 4 and 5 and didn’t go to very good schools and even though I did okay with no tuition I think I could have done a lot better if I had gone to good schools all my life

Depending on which side of Heathrow you are, I would have a look at Merchant Taylors'. I think the Prep is called St Johns.

There is actually not that much choice in terms of Preps in that area. If you want an all singing all dancing Prep experience there is Lambrook or St John's Beaumont. Caldicott if you are OK with compulsory boarding. If you want small and nurturing there is St George's Windsor. Maybe St George's Weybridge if you are the south side of Heathrow and want a day school feel.

Only you can decide whether it is worth it. That partly depends on what else you would be sacrificing.

Merchant Taylors' Prep is just called Merchant Taylors' Prep!!

www.mtpn.org.uk/

Hi OP

Yes, prep schools will prepare pupils for the 11+. Some peeps go through to 13 so would prepare for the pretests at 11 and then Common Entrance. Yes, your child can go to a state Grammar from a prep school.

Whether a prep school is worth it will depend on the school and how well off you are. It will be stressful if it is a real stretch to afford the fees. You should be aware that the fees increase as the children progress through the school.

You may want to get a copy of the Good Schools Guide.

Not all prep schools prepare for the 11+.

Prep schools which feed either their own linked secondary or the very traditional preps which exist to feed 'big name public schools' at 13+ do not provide good preparation for state grammar 11+ exams.

Where I live, the two 'linked to secondaries which take in at 13+ - ie there is X pre-prep / prep and X senior,, with X senior taking in at 13+ - provide no preparation whatever for state 11+ and precious little for the 13+ for schools other than the linked one. They do have an 11+ INTAKE from pupils from private or state primaries who do 2 years at the prep before transferring to the secondary, but do not expect or prepare any to leave.